Thill-coupling



. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. WOLL.

THILL GOUPLING.

No. 370,839. Patented O et. 4, 1887.

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2 snets-snen 2.

(No Model.)

J. E. WoLL.

THILL OOUPLING.

No. 310,839. Patented 001;. 4, 1887.

mmm-55E E UNITED STATES PATENT Genion.

JOSEPH VOLL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,839, dated October 4, 1887.

Application filed January 3, 18E?. Serial No. 223.324. (No model.)

To all whom z5 may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. WoLL, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in rPhill-Couplings;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

It has become a practice to construct thillconnections in the form of a helical coil,which is placed between the shaft and'the axle and connects them by extensions of the coil bolted to each. Until recently the shaft has been connected with the axle by a jack-strap bolt and nut. The continual friction wore out the metal surrounding the bolt and the bolt itself, which then moved loosely in its bore and was liable to sudden breakage. To obviate these disadvantages a coupling was devised'which had sufficient elasticity to permit the requisite movements of the shaft, but was in other respects rigid and immovable. rIhis coupling was in the form lof a single helical coil. From this the disadvantage followed that the pull on the shaft tended to pull the coil asunder, since this method of coiling the thill-coup ling had brought the pull on the shaft out of a right line with t-he connection of the coil with the axle. The force pulling on one end of the coil is thus acting in a direction parallel to the resistance at the other end, and the leverage thus exerted on the coil tends to pull it apart and break it.

The object of myinvention is to remedy this defect by the use of a double coil so arranged that the pull is divided between the two coils, which are coiled in opposite directions. Each coil thus prevents the other from being pulled open, and a straight pull ofthe shaft on the axle is obtained.

My invention consists, broadly, in the use of a double coil so arranged that the leverage exerted on one part of the lcoil is counterbalanced by that exerted on the other, the pull of the shaft being at an equal distance from each of the connections of the coil with the axle. A further advantage of the double coil is, that in case of breakage it is most probable that only one coil will be disabled and the other will hold up the shaft and enable the vehicle to proceed until a repair can be executed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of one form of my improved coil in position, showing its connection with the shaft and axle. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same coil. Fig. 3 is a top view of another form of coil. Figs. 4t and 5 are side views of modified forms of coil. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 show forms of yokes for fastening the ends of the coil to the axle and shaft.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

Fig. 2 shows the preferable form of my improved thill-coupling. It consists of a bar of steel, round or square in cross-section, as preferred, bent at the middle to form the acute angle C, then bent inward at c c, where it forms slightly-rounded angles before it enters the parallel coils A A. 'Ihese coils are formed by one of the sides, A, passing downward and forming one or more coils within the angle C. It then leaves the coil in the perpendicular direction, a a, Fig. 1, at a short distance from its point of entrance, c, and at about the top of the coil. rIhe other side, A', is bent in a similar manner (except that while the coils A are from left to right, coils A will be from right to left) and the shaft-straps a c leave the coils parallel to and at a short distance from one another. I find that the preferable position for the coils A A is for` the greater segment ofthe circle A to be below the plane of the axle-bar B, and so cause the bars to ascend slightly above the level of the V-loop c c before forming the coils. (See Fig. I.)

The bars a a are preferably welded together in one piece from a point at a short distance from the coils A A', and the holes for the bolts to fasten the shaft-strap to the shaft are then drilled in the solid strap. Where, however, my improved thill-coupling is to be applied to a shaft already provided with bolt-holes, I find it preferable to weld the bars together at their ends only at a2, and to leave the bars a a open for the whole remainder of theirlength. This is for the purpose of more ready adjustment with the old bolt-holes, the bars being clamped to the shaft by the cross-yokes shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The yoke D consists of a thin plate of iron with beveled edges d d, to t on the barsa a',

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and is provided with a center hole, (V, for the bolt.

rIhe yoke E consists of a thick plate of metal provided with two grooves, c e, adapted to Iit over the bars a a', so that the center portion, e', and sides ct et' hold the bars in position.

The V loop e c is fastened beneath the axle by the yoke F, Fig. S, consisting` of a V-sh aped clamp having a groove, ff, adapted to fit over the loop c c. It is provided at one end with a lug,f2, which projects beyond the axle to receive the bolt g, Fig. 1, which passes around the axle-bar.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular form of coil above described, as many modifications may be made in the relative positions of the coils, the axle, and shaft. Neither do I limit my invention to the particular connection of the two coils at the angle C. The ends of the coils A A may be separate, as in Figs. 3 and 4, and I then provide them with the hooks 7i l1, to engage the axle, and secure them by the yoke shown in Fig. 9.

I am aware that two parallel coiled springs have been used to connect the shaft and axle ofa vehicle; but such connections have been rather ofthe nature of vchiclesprings than of From the manner in which a thill-couplingthey have been coiled they would tend to come apart under a severe strain, or when used with a heavy vehicle, and have not the advantages of my i'orm of coil.

I claiml. As a thill-coupling, two bars connecting` the axle and shaft ol' a vehicle and containing each one or more coils formed by a corresponding number of complete revolutions, so that they enter and leave said coils Very nearly at the same point, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. As a thill-coupling, two bars connecting the axle and the shaft of a vehicle and containing each one or more coils formed by coiling each bar in opposite directions for a corre sponding number of complete revolutions, so that the bars leave the coils in a perpendicular direction at or nearly at the same point that they entered them, substantially as and for the purposes described. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of December, A. D. 1886.

JOSEPH E. VOLL.

Vitnesses:

W. B. Conwix, J. K. Siii'rir. 

